Qualification makes the difference!

Working with families with addiction issues - Qualification makes the difference!

Erasmus+ small-scale partnership

News

“Join experts and professionals across Europe to discuss and improve support for families with addiction issues!”

European conference (online) - 3 December 2024 - 15:45-18:00 Central European Time (CET)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#ErasmusPlus #nabibb #Addiction #vocationaltraining #family #familieswithaddictionissues #Makethedifference #EUfunding #EUproject #euronet

 

The Workshop in Barcelona was a big step forward!

9 different personas prepared by project partners for the workshop

Last week, we had the pleasure of gathering with project partners from 9 EU countries hosted by our colleagues from the Department of Health/Public Health Agency of Catalonia Government of Catalonia (Gencat), to delve into crucial issues surrounding families affected by addiction. With 19 dedicated participants, we developed a prototype curriculum aimed at training professionals from different backgrounds who work with these families or where children from such families could potentially be identified early on.

The workshop was a dynamic mix of collaboration, creativity, and empathy. Drawing on insights gathered from data collected from 42 individuals who have parents affected by addiction and/or are themselves children from parents with addiction issues, we created personas to better understand the diverse needs of our target audience. Through empathy mapping exercises, we gained insights into the challenges and aspirations of these families, laying the groundwork for a curriculum that truly resonates with their experiences.

In addition to focusing on the needs of families, we also explored the perspective of professionals working in the field. We envisioned the qualities of an ideal professional and identified strategies to bridge the gap between the current state and the desired standard.

On the second day, we dove into refining our existing training concept towards the curriculum prototype. We identified gaps, redesigned modules, and defined tasks to bring our project forward. Furthermore, we started to explore the potential of delivering parts of these trainings online, reflecting on the evolving landscape of digital learning.

Overall, the workshop was a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing complex social issues. We're proud of the progress we've made and grateful for the dedication of our partners.

#ErasmusPlus #nabibb #Addiction #vocationaltraining #family #familieswithaddictionissues #Makethedifference #EUfunding #EUproject #euronet

 

 

About the project

Background

In the context of families affected by addiction, there are many challenges ranging from social stigmatisation to complicated family dynamics. Qualified professionals from different support systems are essential to tackle these challenges effectively. They need to navigate complex scenarios, understand the nuanced needs of affected families and provide customised support that promotes wellbeing and recovery. This Erasmus+ small-scale Partnership builds on the foundation of the EU-project "Make the Difference" and recognises the urgent need for qualified professionals who are able to provide comprehensive support to these vulnerable families.

Objectives

The primary objective of this project is to improve the support system for families struggling with addiction issues. The project aims to achieve this by enhancing the knowledge and skills of professionals working with these vulnerable families.

The specific objectives are:

  1. Creating a comprehensive training curriculum (OER) tailored to professionals working with families affected by addiction.
  2. Incorporating input and insights from affected families to ensure the curriculum aligns with their actual needs.
  3. Sharing best practices and making the curriculum easily implementable for relevant organizations, including digital options for broader accessibility.

Activities

  1. Collecting Input from Families with Addiction Issues: This activity involves engaging families affected by addiction to gather insights through focus groups, interviews, or online surveys. Their experiences and expectations will inform the development of the curriculum, ensuring it effectively addresses their needs and challenges.
  2. Joint Workshop for Curriculum Development: This collaborative workshop brings together professionals and experts to develop the curriculum prototype. Through discussions and brainstorming sessions, participants refine the curriculum, ensuring it is inclusive and responsive to the real-world challenges faced by families affected by addiction.
  3. Curriculum development: This activity entails refining the curriculum based on insights from the joint workshop. Working groups comprising project partners will collaborate to develop detailed content, including topics, didactics, and exercises. Regular online meetings will ensure all partners contribute, benefiting organizations offering professional training, professionals, and families affected by addiction.
  4. Public Relations: This activity includes dissaemation activities via various channels and includes organizing an online conference targeting stakeholders from all EU countries to disseminate project updates and engage participants. The conference will aim to increase awareness and facilitate knowledge sharing. The target audience includes organizations offering training, policymakers, and other stakeholders, with the goal of fostering future funding opportunities and amplifying the project's impact.

Expected Results

  1. Accessible curriculum: A comprehensive curriculum (open educational resources - OER) will be developed, offering training materials and resources tailored to professionals from diverse social work backgrounds. The curriculum will be designed to be accessible and user-friendly, ensuring ease of use for all participants.
  2. Family-Centric Approach: The active involvement of families affected by addiction will ensure that the curriculum is deeply rooted in their actual needs and experiences. This family-centric approach will enhance the effectiveness and empathy of the training, leading to more impactful outcomes.
  3. Recommendations for Implementation: Clear and actionable recommendations will be provided for organizations and professionals on how to effectively implement the training curriculum. These recommendations will ensure that the curriculum has a meaningful impact on their work, fostering improved support for families affected by addiction.
  4. Awareness and Destigmatization: By addressing the challenges faced by families affected by addiction and providing valuable resources, the project will contribute to raising awareness and reducing the stigma associated with addiction issues. This will promote a more compassionate and informed approach within society, leading to greater support and understanding for those affected by addiction.

 

 

 

 

 

Partnership

The partnership consist of 9 members of the euro net network:  LWL (Coordinator, Germany), Irefrea (PortugalT), Gencat (Catalonia/Spain), Forum Prävention (Italy), NUDZ/NIMH (Czech Republic), Integra Limburg (Belgium), EHYT (Finland), Educational Centre for Families & Schools (Latvia) & Athina Ygia (Greece).

Coordinator

LWL-Coordination Office for Addiction Issues, Germany

www.lwl-ks.de

Head of project: Frank Schulte-Derne
Contact person: Rebekka Kleinat
Tel. +49 251 591 5382
E: rebekka.kleinat[at]lwl.org

 

 

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.